Honours even in pre-season friendly between Saints and East Kilbride
REGULAR pre-season visitors East Kilbride returned to Oban last Saturday afternoon where they and hosts Saints served up an entertaining goalless draw in front of a healthy crowd at Glencruitten.
Injuries and holiday commitments forced manager Alex Craik to make five changes to the starting XI that had put five goals past St Anthony’s a week earlier. The changes included a first start since the D&K Lafferty Cup tournament for David McArthur who lined up on the right of the back four alongside Willie Gemmell, Dene Cassells and Scott Maitland.
With Paul Kerr arriving late due to work commitments, the gaffer handed a starting role to Matthew Kelly where he joined Myles McAuley and Donald Campbell in the middle of the park.
Dean Smith returned to spearhead the attack, flanked by Fraser MacFarlane and Craig MacEwan. Alex named himself on the substitutes bench for the second week running with Jay Cooper and Paul Kerr making up the outfield options. The goalkeeping duties were once again shared between Thomas McCulloch, who started the match, and Graham Douglas, who would take over for the second half.
Saints were unable to exert the midfield domination they had enjoyed seven days previously with the visitors matching them stride for stride and creating by far the better opportunities to break the deadlock.
In the seventh minute Thomas McCulloch produced the first of several high quality saves to keep the East Kilbride men at bay.
Craig MacEwan was having an interesting tussle with East Kilbride right back Callum McLean and got the better of the East Kilbride players’ player of the year in the 20th minute. Tricking his way into the box, Craig delivered an early cross which was met spectacularly by Fraser MacFarlane whose overhead kick from 14 yards was blocked by the chest of Ryan Duffy before being thumped to safety by the big defender.
Thomas McCulloch was in action again in the 29th minute saving another effort from Matthew Gray, diving full length to his right to deny the East Kilbride midfielder.
Side netting
Saints edged closer to testing Scott Henderson in the East Kilbride goal with a good move on the left involving Scott Maitland and Matthew Kelly. Matthew picked out Fraser MacFarlane on the edge of the box and he beat Callum McLean, Graham Marshall and the right hand of keeper Henderson but only succeeded in finding the side netting of the East Kilbride goal.
Thomas McCulloch remained the busier of the goalkeepers and made the best of his first half saves in the 40th minute.
Saints ended the half on the front foot and won a set piece opportunity on the corner of the East Kilbride box to finally test Henderson in the visitors’ goal. Donald Campbell lifted the ball over the two-man wall towards the near post with Graham Marshall reacting quickest to head behind for a corner kick.
Fraser MacFarlane flighted a good ball into the six-yard box which Henderson, under pressure from Dean Smith, couldn’t gather at the first attempt, eventually smothering the ball on his goal line surrounded by a forest of legs. Unfortunately, the big keeper injured his left knee in the process and limped from the field on Mr Scott’s half-time whistle to be replaced by Graeme McMillan.
Saints also changed their goalkeeper for the second half with Douglas taking over from McCulloch.
Paul Kerr also made an appearance, replacing Fraser MacFarlane in a switch which brought about a change to a 4- 4-2 formation.
It took fully 20 minutes for Saints to bring East Kilbride replacement keeper McMillan into the action from a long Graham Douglas clearance. Donald Campbell won the flick- on with Craig MacEwan and Paul Kerr combining well for Craig to send a ball into the box where Donald had continued his run. However, Graeme McMillan anticipated the danger and slid out to smother the ball at Donald’s feet.
Saints then made their final change when young Jay Cooper came on the replace Dean Smith up front.
Saints’ replacement keeper Graham Douglas received his first taste of the action in the 67th minute, turning a shot from Kyle Gatens around his left hand post after the East Kilbride substitute got the better of Willie Gemmell on the edge of the Saints box.
Playing more centrally in the second half, Craig MacEwan adjusted well to his new position and in the 74th minute held up a Willie Gemmell pass long enough to release David McArthur on a rampaging run up the right touchline. David fired over a cross looking for Craig’s run to the back post but Graeme McMillan intercepted the danger, clawing the ball behind for a corner kick.
Scott Maitland’s out-swinger from the Saints left found the head of McArthur who couldn’t direct his effort on target, sending it two feet over the crossbar.
From McMillan’s bye kick, the visitors moved swiftly to the other end where Graham Douglas produced his best moment of the match, springing to his right to finger-tip a Kyle Gatens drive behind for a corner.
Upped
Having looked decidedly flat for long periods of the second half, Saints finally upped their game for the closing 15 minutes.
Having forced a corner on the left, Jay Cooper was on hand to receive the ball short from Scott Maitland and sent over a dangerous cross which Dene Cassells threw himself at, getting his header on target only to see Ryan Duffy head the ball off the goal line.
Saints rounded off the goalmouth action with a good run through the inside right channel from Craig MacEwan who sent a low shot fizzing inches past Graeme McMillan’s right hand post.
Referee John Scott, who handled proceedings well in his own inimitable style, brought a fairly even contest to an end with the visitors perhaps just shading a good contest for both teams.
Saints conclude their pre-sea- son preparations on Saturday with a trip to Lochgilphead where they will defend the Argyll and Bute Cup in an eight-team tournament organised and hosted by Lochgilphead Red Star.
Alex Craik was happy with the workout. He said: ‘That game was exactly what we needed. East Kilbride are an excellent side and it was a good workout for both teams.
‘We’ve had to chop and change personnel for all the pre-season games, which is not ideal, but at least it has given me a chance to have a good look at the squad.’